Tyrone has it tough in cup warm-up

The Sydney Cup picture will become clearer after the group 2 Chairman's Handicap at Randwick on Saturday. Twelve of the 18 runners in the Chairman's are entered in the $800,000 Sydney Cup next Saturday.

The race has become a strong pointer to the Sydney Cup. Last year, the first three home in the Chairman's - Grey Song, Honor Babe and County Tyrone - also fought out the 3200m classic.

The Kris Lees-trained County Tyrone remains on course to go one better than its second placing in the Sydney Cup last year. However, the group 1-winning five-year-old will have to overcome another horror barrier to figure in the Chairman's.

In its past two starts, County Tyrone has jumped from extreme outside barriers before rattling home late in eye-catching runs.

County Tyrone, third to Doncaster Handicap contender Shower Of Roses in the Neville Sellwood Stakes last Saturday, will again jump from the widest barrier, 18, on Saturday.

Champion jockey Damien Oliver retains the ride on County Tyrone, which sits on the second line of betting for the Sydney Cup behind last year's Caulfield Cup winner and Chairman's Handicap rival Mummify.

Mummify will carry top weight of 60kg in the 2600m event on Saturday. Last weekend, Mummify fought on bravely for second behind top three-year-old Grand Zulu in The BMW at Rosehill.

County Tyrone and Mummify are expected to battle for favouritism in the Chairman's. The Neville McBurney-trained Henderson Bay was the last stayer to win the Sydney Cup after taking out the Chairman's Handicap, in 2002.